what it comes to. Worry about nothing. You have
at least no worries. It's a great, rare chance."

She had got up, for she had had from him both
that he would send her something and would advise
her promptly of the date of his coming to her, by
which she was virtually dismissed. Yet, for herself,
one or two things kept her. " May I come back to
England too?"

"Rather! Whenever you like. But always,
when you do come, immediately let me know."

"Ah," said Milly, " it won't be a great going to
and fro."

"Then if you ll stay with us, so much the better."

It touched her, the way he controlled his impa
tience of her; and the fact itself affected her as so
precious that she yielded to the wish to get more
from it. " So you don't think I'm out of my
mind?"

"Perhaps that w," he smiled, "all that's the
matter."

She looked at him longer. " No, that's too good.
Shall I, at any rate, suffer?"

"Not a bit."

"And yet then live?"

"My dear young lady," said her distinguished
friend, " isn't to live exactly what I'm trying to
persuade you to take the trouble to do?"

[[269]]

p268 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p269w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p270

v?